​●ワンダーミンツ、ブライアン・ウィルソンバンドのダリアン・サハナジャさんから4thアルバムへの推薦コメントをいただきました‼

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Throughout most of 2016, listening to The PenFriend Club albums became my favorite thing to do while traveling on those long flights. Their music captured the spirit of the jet-set and made me feel as if I were not only traveling through space, but traveling through time. Not just backward in time, but forward as well. Because as much as mastermind Yuichi Hirakawa pays proper respect to the past, he also creates sound that propels me into the future.

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This is why I am very excited about the group's newest effort "The Wonderful World Of The PenFriend Club." As they have done on past albums, some impeccable choices have been made for cover material. Some lesser known songs by The 5th Dimension, The Ronettes…the classic "River Deep, Mountain High" and arguably the best version of "Sherry She Needs Me" I have ever heard! Sure, the original Beach Boys track from 1965 is amazing, but it was never finished properly. Brian made several more attempts at the song but it never lived up to the magic of the original session. But THIS version by The PenFriend Club does! Every 12-string electric guitar and brass section wall of sonic detail is here! And I adore the female vocal approach on it. In fact, I must confess that I'm a bit of a female vocal junkie. I'm sure this explains the natural affinity I have for this group. I also must confess that I am jealous of Mr. Hirakawa because he has the greatest job in the world. I DREAM of playing soft West Coast pop surrounded by by beautiful female musicians and singers! Mr. Hirakawa is my hero.

 

But let's get back to the music. So far I've pointed out the more popular covers, but it wouldn't be fair if I didn't spotlight my absolute favorite things about the new album. As much as like the tracks that I mentioned earlier, I think the greatest joy comes from a vicarious Japanese pop experience which occurs while listening to their original material, and from their choice to include songs by legendary pop songwriters of Japan. On their last album, my favorite track was Tatsuro Yamashita's "Saturday Lover" and for the new album they chose "Summer Paperback" by Eichi Ohtaki who's music I've become obsessed with these last 5 years. On last year's album, I believe Mr. Hirakawa's original songs ("What A Summer", "Before The Summer Ends") are as good as any of the other (cover version) songs. And on this new album, he continues to advance his craft with songs like "Two Sunset Lines" and "Rainy Day In August." At some point, I think I will be making a custom compilation of the groups' original songs only. That's how good they are!

 

 

Darian Sahanaja

WONDERMINTS / Brian Wilson Band

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